🐶Dog Play 🐶
When dogs are playing it is effectively a mock battle and their bodies should look really loose, wriggly and like they mirror each other. You'll often see dogs offering the play bow which you can see the golden retriever doing in the video. This means they are inviting play and that their intentions are friendly. Play helps dogs develop their social skills and good for their physical and mental health.
🚩 RUDE PLAY
It's important to be aware of your dogs body language and to notice when play is nice and when play is getting too much. Things such as body slamming, mounting, mouthing this can revoke negative reactions from the other player as this is very rude.
Nice play is when they will mimic each other and offer play bows and displacement behaviours such as sneezing. Each player will also take shots of winning and losing the battle.
✨️CONSENT TEST✨️
If you are ever unsure of your dogs body language if they are actually enjoying the play then you can carry out a consent test.
This is when you hold the more playful dog in place so that the other dog has a choice. They can either walk away or come back and interact. This way we will know if the dog was just appeasing the other dog or if they were actually having a good time
🔵 PUPPY CLASS🔵
In class we discuss dog play and give the pups an opportunity to play in week 3 and 6 where we go into more depth about play, body language and how to calmly break play.
✨️ MARKER WORDS✨️
What is a marker word? 🤯
A marker word is used in dog training to take a snapshot of the behaviour we like or want. It can be any word you want to use and the most common words used is yes and good.
Whats the point? 🤔
A marker word will let the dog know exactly what we are asking of them and it's very clear that is the behaviour we like or want. If we don't use a marker word then they might do a few behaviours such as lifting a paw, stand back up or even jump up before they get the treat. This means they won't know what they are being rewarded and might be reinforcing behaviours we don't want.
Example?
If we are teaching our dog to do a sit then we can lure them into the position and as soon as the bottom sits on the floor that's when you want to say your marker word and then offer a tasty treat.
⭐PUPPY CLASS ⭐
Next puppy class starts January 14th every Saturday for 6 weeks. Class will start at 9:45am for one hour each week.
Under 6 months
⭐JUNIOR CLASS ⭐
Junior class starts January 14th every Saturday for 6 weeks. Class will start at 11am for one hour each week.
Over 6 months
⛔ No class on Saturday 4th February which makes the last class 25th February
🐶 WHAT WE COVER 🐶
Recall, loose lead walking, focus, confidence building, socialisation, settle and much more
A block of 6 classes will cost £80 and payment must be made before class starts to secure your space
Classes are held at Perth pet care
⭐Puppys and settle⭐
It's important to help our dogs to be calm and neutral in different environments and around different stimuli especially for puppies during their socialisation period.
A great way to do this is to practice doing a settle. A settle is different to a lie down because it is more relaxed and when dogs are learning to be in a settle and relax it releases calming hormones in the brain.
How to practice doing a settle and helping our puppies be calm and relaxed is one of the things we do in puppy classes.
⭐Next Puppy Class⭐
Saturday 7th Januaray at 9:45 am every Saturday for 6 weeks with a break on Saturday 4th February with the last class being on 18th February
Class is one hour each Saturday and will be held at Perth Pet Care
(Video below of simba practicing being settled and relaxed)
